MARCH 2, 2003

Toyota goes straight to the top of the IRL class

Toyota has won its very first event in the Indy Racing League. On Sunday New Zealand's Scott Dixon won the Toyota Indy 300 at Homestead in his Target Chip Ganassi entry. Dixon was chased home by the two Marlboro Team Penske drivers Gil de Ferran and Helio Castroneves, making it a 1-2-3 for Toyota-powered cars. The best of the rest was Tony Kanaan in his Andretti Green Racing Dallara-Honda which finished fourth ahead of Scott Sharp's Dallara-Toyota and Kanaan's team mates Michael Andretti and Dario Franchitti. The top 10 was completed by Tomas Scheckter (Ganassi G-Force-Toyota), Felipe Giaffone (Mo Nunn G-Force-Toyota) and double IRL champion Sam Hornish Jr (Pennzoil Panther Dallara-Chevrolet).

Honda and Chevrolet will get their chance for revenge at Phoenix International Raceway on March 23.